EDWARDSVILLE — A patient at Alton Memorial Hospital claims she suffered damage to her ureter during surgery and was discharged before the injury was addressed.
Kelly Ricci filed a complaint March 1 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Christopher Aldridge, M.D., Fairview Heights Medical Group SC and Alton Memorial Hospital, alleging negligence.
According to the complaint, Ricci was admitted to Alton Memorial Hospital on Jan, 21, 2020, with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and constipation due to acute diverticulitis. She alleges that on Jan. 25, 2020, her symptoms became worse, her bowel ruptured and she underwent a sigmoid colectomy performed by Aldridge. Ricci claims that during the procedure, Aldridge injured her left ureter. She claims the defendants allowed her to be discharged without addressing her injury and additional symptoms. Ricci claims that on Feb. 13, 2020, she was diagnosed with a transected left ureter at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
Ricci alleges the defendants failed to "obtain a urology consult perioperatively," failed to stent the ureters prior to surgery and failed to recognize her symptoms during her post-operative hospitalization.
Ricci seeks compensation of more than $50,000 and all other just relief. She is represented by Lanny Darr of The Darr Law Offices LTD in Alton.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 21-L-000265